The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday, said it is diversifying into the health sector and plans to commercialise its 52 clinics and hospitals spread across the country.

According to a statement by the NNPC in Abuja, this diversification initiative is part of its strategy to stay afloat as a commercially viable entity.

To drive this initiative, the statement noted that the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr. Maikanti Baru, inaugurated the Boards of the NNPC Medical Services Limited, NMSL and the NNPC Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Limited.

The NNPC stated that following its recent restructuring, its Group Medical Services was realigned as a new venture non-core business entity, charged with the responsibility of creating new medical businesses that will generate revenue for the Corporation.

It explained that as at today, the NNPC Medical Services Division boasts of 52 clinics and hospitals spread across the Corporation’s various locations across the country, providing services to staff and their family members.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Baru said the aim of the NNPC now, was to open up these medical facilities to other oil and gas organisations as well as other interested third party consumers for profitability.

He said, “My vision is to make NNPC a renowned Health Medical Services (HMS) provider globally. In the nearby future, we are committed to making our medical facilities a reference point for the provision of world-class health medical services in Africa and beyond.”

Baru charged the Board members to provide the necessary direction to medical service delivery in NNPC in line with global best standards.

“It is going to be a new terrain for all of you. You must take advantage of the latest and most efficient technological advancement in healthcare service delivery,” he told the Board members.

While urging the two boards to carve a niche for the NNPC Medical Services as a specialized medical service provider such as

“Burns and Trauma Centre”, he also called on them to collaborate with the best partners as it is very critical towards service delivery.

He further charged the two boards to work with synergy, without compromising their respective independence, stressing that their job comes with a lot of responsibility and they must prove themselves on this critical assignment.

Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer, NNPC Ventures, who is also the Board Chairman of the two organisations, Mr. Babatunde Adeniran, said that with this development, the NNPC was taking advantage of the new opportunities in the nation’s health sector.

“With this development, the existing NNPC Hospitals will compete for clients with other top class hospitals in locations where they operate hence quality of service would be improved,” Adeniran stated.

Aside Dr. Adeniran who chairs the Boards of the NNPC Medical Services and the NNPC Health Maintenance Organisation, there are also seven members for each of the boards, which are expected to commence work immediately.